Developing a Program for Historic Structures Threatened by Demolition by Neglect

Kalbian, Maral

From Purpose and Background: "After extensive research, including data supplied by other Certified Local Government (CLG) communities, the Clarke County Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) has identified some options Clarke County, Virginia, may want to implement to mitigate 'demolition by neglect.' ...The HPC recently identified that 'demolition by neglect' is becoming more widespread, and the loss of historic resources has a negative impact on the overall historic character of Clarke County. A number of contributing structures have deteriorated to the point where the cost of rehabilitation exceeds their value, and owners consider demolition preferable to maintenance or repair. As part of this study, an inventory was conducted to better understand the extent of the problem of vacant buildings in Clarke. The buildings range in the level of their condition with the primary factor being the amount of time they have been uninhabited. Only properties that could be photographed from a public right-of-way were documented. There are many others that are either not visible or are located in more remote parts of the country. Of the 60 properties identified, only three are located within the boundaries of a local historic district (White Post Historic District): one is currently being restored, another is on the market, and the third has been vacant and boarded up for at least 10 years. The remaining 57 properties are not located within local historic districts so they are subject to review by the HPC. The majority, however, are contributing resources within the National Register historic districts including Greenway, Chapel, and Long Marsh Run rural historic districts, and the Berryville, Boyce, and Josephine City historic districts. Fewer than 20 percent are not located within either a National Register of local historic district. Why these buildings are not maintained remains unclear." Project funding was provided in part by a Historic Preservation Fund grant to the Virginia Department of Historic Resources, administered by the State, Tribal, Local Plans and Grants, National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior (grant number P17AF00053).

Developing a Program for Historic Structures Threatened by Demolition by Neglect

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